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Last Updated, June 27 2005

The Phillips Times

W. H. Wilson, Editor,
Phillips, Wisconsin, 1877-1879

1877-1879 | 1880-1882 | 1883-1887 |
Date Newspaper Clippings
May 26, 1877 A Touch of Hell!! The Phillips Fire. Great Loss of Property--Working against Odds--Narrow Escapes--Heroic Efforts of the Bully Boys--The Battle in the Smoke--A Little Excitement--No Idlers Allowed!!

On Sunday morning, the 20th about half past eight o'clock, a fire was discovered in one of the second floor sleeping rooms of the Central House on Lake Street owned by Waddel Bros. The alarm was instantly given and the thrilling cry of fire was sounded from a hundred throats up and down the street. The fire had made considerable headway before it was discovered and almost before the alarm could be given the whole upper part of the building was enveloped in flames. A strong effort was made by the ready crowd to check the fire, but without avail, and when it was found that the building must go, attention was turned to the adjoining buildings to see if they could not be saved. Blankets were hung on the sides of the houses and kept wet as long as the people could stand the heat to throw water on them with pails. But a stiff breeze had sprung up and the wooden building burned with intense heat and it was soon almost impossible to get within reaching distance. Before the walls of Central house had fallen the fire had communicated with J. Lingren's shoe shop and next to the ornamental cornice of the Turner House and from thence to J. H. Fewell's store, where an open street enabled to prevent the spread of the flames further south. The fire worked north from its starting place in the Central House to Mesic & McConnell's store and Mrs. Herron's dwelling house, and from thence to Tim Burns' saloon and his dwelling house in the rear. Here was a vacant space of about thirty feet and by the strongest kind of work the saloon building of Dunn & Quail's was saved ...

A Card
I wish to say to the citizens of Phillips, who so nobly assisted me in trying to save my goods from the fire, that I fully appreciated the favor and tender them my sincere thanks. Especial credit is due Wm. Farrell and Jno. McMullen, who on several occasions risked theirs lives to save my property. Great praise should also be rendered Frank Burgess for his gallant conduct in risking his life to save that of a child at the Central House.-- J. H. Fewell.
Sept.8, 1877 The Rev. Father July, of Stevens Point, was in town this morning and held Mass at the residence of M. Nicholson. At the close of the service a child of William Farrell's and a child of Louis Jennetıs was Christened. Patrick Farrell stood as Godfather and Margaret Tierney Godmother to the children. The child of Mr. Farrell's is named John William, the first name in honor of Mr. Fewell. The services were very interesting and largely attended.
Nov. 3, 1877
"Dobbins' Electric Soap."
Having obtained the agency of this celebrated soap for Phillips and vicinity I append the opinion of some of our best people as to its merits:

"I take pleasure in saying that Dobbins Electric Soap made by I.L. Cragin & Co., Philadelphia has found greater favor in my family than any other kind of soap. The woman folks say it goes farther and washes cleaner than any other.
--Mrs. Maggie Tierney.

We think Dobbins Electric Soap is the best ever brought into this part of the country. We use it altogether now.
--Hattie Barnes,
--Ellen Farrell.

"Dobbins' Electric Soap" is the best soap in the market.
--Mrs. A. E. Fewell.
I desire all my friends and customers to give this soap one trial so that they know just how good the best soap in the US. is. --J. H. Fewell
March 30, 1878 The following is the ticket placed in nomination by the caucus:
For Town Supervisors,
David O'Brien, Chairman,
Wm. Farrell,
Wm. D. Gumaer
April 6, 1878
Phillips Town Election
SIDE-BOARD.
Wm. Farrell. 162
Allan Jackson, 161
April 6, 1878 Our friends Farrell and Jackson bear the honors attending upon the office of alderman with charming grace.
Aug. 17, 1878
TOWN OFFICERS
Town of Worcester,
Chippawa County, Wis.
...
Side Board .....Wm. Farrell
...
Aug. 17, 1878 Billy Farrell, that notorious "jack-at-all trades," in his role of practical mason, is building the stone foundation of the new schoolhouse.
Sept. 21, 1878 ...co. Cochran and Chris. Dardis have ... commenced the erection of new residences in this village.
Oct. 5, 1878 Chris Dardis has had the body of an elegant block house put up this week.
Oct. 26, 1878 Chris. Dardis blockhouse, now almost completed, is the most comely structure of its kind we have ever seen.
Nov. 2, 1878 Wm. Farrell has concluded to follow the general custom, and is building a neat block-house, near the new school building.
Nov. 9, 1878 Accident. -- While Michael Moran, a little boy aged about ten years, was playing beneath a scaffold on the new building of Wm. Farrell, at this place on Wednesday, a scantling falling, struck him and inflicted a severe, though not dangerous wound upon the back of his head. The cut was dressed and properly cared for by Dr. Wyatt, and the lad is doing well.
Nov. 16, 1878 Wm. Farrell has completed his new residence, and on this (Friday) afternoon is moving his family and effects into it. The building presents a very neat, cozy appearance.
Dec. 28, 1878 Chris. Dardis and Jack Herman have secured the contract for catting the Railroad Co.ıs pine about this village and are now at work upon it.
Jan. 4, 1879 Gents: -- Having been informed by some of my friends that false stories are in circulation relating to the action of the present Town Board of Supervisors of the Town of Worcester, I consider it my duty as a member of said board to explain the matter to the citizens of the town, and all whom it may concern. --
It has been reported by certain parties that the members of the board are trying to keep all they can of the tax voted for incidental purposes until the last of their term, and then appropriate a large sum to their own use. This with other lies, appear to be a the general subject upon which our opponents harp.--
Where the dissatisfaction arose is well known to that portion of our citizens who are willing to acknowledge the truth. The other portion, of course, are prejudiced to all things that common sense or justice would teach.
The trouble appears to have originated because the board have not seen fit to issue a large amount of orders against the town for nothing, except it be to satisfy the desire of a few individuals who have little or no ambition for any thing else.
The board of the present year considerate it their duty, after taking into consideration the standing of the town, to try and curtail expenses in every way possible, and to try and get the town in a good financial condition. We have not attempted to make any improvements in the town, except in it's financial condition. That I claim we have done, as can easily be seen by comparing the price of orders now and at this time last year. Should the town arrears be run as close by the next board town orders will be at par and the town will have the reputation of credit that it should.
This explanation may cause our opponents to make a personal vindication at which time I will be ready to produce figures that won't look well in print. --William Farrell
Jan. 11, 1879 Chris. Dardis and Billy Farrell are energetically "pushing things" at their job of putting in the railroad timber about this village. Their skid-ways along the track are filled with a large number of logs of a very good quality.
Jan. 25, 1879
Caucus Proceedings
At a caucus, held in Fewell's Hall
...
The chair appointed J. D. Wyatt and Wm. Farrell as tellers to receive ballots, and instructed the meeting to prepare ballots...
Jan. 25, 1879 Resolved: -- That the delegates to Madison are hereby authorized and instructed to present such names to the Governor for his approval, and appointment to such offices.
...
Sheriff, C. Dardis
Saturday
Jan. 25, 1879
Thursday night brought to Chris. Dardis a youthful son and heir, whom, it is expected will do much toward perpetuating the family name in the future. The weight of the new comer is not given, but according to rumor its size is something wonderful. Mother and son are doing well and the father appears to be improving rapidly.
Feb. 1, 1879 Lack of snow greatly retards Dardis & Farrell in their job of putting in the railroad timber about town. The boys did good work while the snow lasted however, as their skidways abundantly prove.
Feb. 8, 1879 Billy Farrell is once more behind the counter in J. H. Fewell's store. Billy's fine figure and handsome countenance draw custom, and the rush of old women, young married ladies and little girls to his store is mainly attributable to his presence there. We sincerely hope that his family will not wax jealous at this intelligence, however.
An ad
in each issue
of the
Phillips Times

J. H. FEWELL,

Phillips, Wisconsin

Wholesale and Retail

Dry-Goods.
Notions
Clothing
Groceries
Patent Medicine,
Furs & Hides,
Buckskin,
Mocassins
...
At wholesale prices.
March 1, 1879 A portion of Billy Farrell's anatomical structure was severely frozen the middle of this week. Ask Bill about it.
March 1, 1879 Weed, Gumaer & Co., of Weyanwega, have purchased from the Central Co. the logs cut at this place by Dardis & Farrell. Shipment of the timber will soon begin.
March 15, 1879 Let all sinners within the confines of Price county cease their iniquitous workings. Should they once feel sheriff Dardis in their hair, they will ever after have a healthy fear of the law.
March 15, 1879 Deputy Sheriff. -- According to the provisions of the bill creating it. Price County is attached to Taylor for judicial purposes and the judicial officers of the latter county serve also for ours. These offices are District Attorney, Clerk of Court and Sheriff. Hence it was necessary that a deputy-sheriff should be appointed for Price County. and to meet this necessity, sheriff Needham of Taylor, has appointed our fellow townsman, Chris Dardis as deputy for Price. This appointment is a good one, and we think gives excellent satisfaction all around. We know of no one in our county who is better qualified to perform the duties of the position than Mr. Dardis.
March 22, 1879 Twenty-three car-loads of the Dardis Farrell logs were run down the line a special train on Monday morning. The shipment of the remainder of the number will be made as soon as possible.
March 29, 1879 ...Farrell that the board accept the proposition of Ellen Campbell to lease the lower story of her building for use of two officers, for the sum of $10.00 per month. Motion carried, all voting aye.
Motion by Sup. Farrell that the County Clerk be instructed to visit Milwaukee and make all necessary arrangements, and complete the purchase of all necessary records, books, and stationery for the county, and further, see what can be don towards furnishing the County offices with fire proof safes. Carried, all voting aye. ...
April 5, 1879
ELECTION.
How it Passed off at Phillips.
Tuesday morning presented the same aspect as the average election day. A piercingly cold wind blew, but toward noon the sun shone quite warmly and mud was the main obstacle to comfort for those outside. Our town election was hotly contested; every individual seemingly deemed it his duty to electioneer his fellow men and did so. Although the political atmosphere was warm, everything passed off quietly and not an outbreak disturbed the general peace. The canvass was very close as the following figures evince:
SUPERVISORS.
John O'Brien, Chairman, .....101
W.D. Gumaer, Chairman,......86
W. Farrell.........................106
C. H. Williams,...................116
P. Deschamps,.....................67
Jas. Sweeney,.......................85
T. Rostron,............................3
.....
April 5, 1879
Attempted Foul Crime
The excitement of election dodges and schemes gave way to a sensation of indignation on Tuesday afternoon, in consequence of the receipt of a telegraphic report that a rape had been attempted at Fifield, the victim being Miss Lizzie Kennedy, of the North Fork, a young lady known to many of our citizens and wherever acquainted, highly esteemed. We have since that time learned, that the facts of the case which are substantially as follows:

Miss Kennedy, who for some time past has been at Fifield, started on foot for the North Fork, a distance of four miles, through the uninhabited woods, for the purpose of visiting her mother, who resides at the latter place. Her departure was noticed by one Tom Sommers, a bad character who has been hanging about here during the spring, and she was followed by him.

She was overtaken by the ruffian a short distance from Fifield, who after a few insulting remarks, seized her and threw her on her knees. She struggled greatly, screaming loudly, but was unable to break from him. Her cries were heard by the station agent and a man with him at the time; these two proceeded on a run toward the place whence it was apparent the cries came but a few moments elapsed ere they came in view of the girl struggling with her would be ravisher. Their approach was not noticed by the villain until they had approached within a short distance of the place of struggle, and until it was too late to attempt escape. Sommers and Miss Kennedy were taken back to Fifield, and the young lady placed in care of friend, while the prisoner was held in custody by one of his captors. From this surveillance he shortly escaped and started for Butternut, where he was captured by an officer who had been apprised by telegraph of his coming, and held in custody until the arrival of Sherrif Dardis of this place the same evening. To this functionary he was delivered and brought to Fifield the next morning, where he was arraigned before Justice Calhoun for a preliminary examination. The court deemed the evidence sufficiently strong to warrant a binding over for trial at circuit court and accordingly made an order to the effect. Sherrif Dardis took him to Medford yesterday and there lodged him in Jail.

That the hardened wretch was foiled in his dastardly design is indeed a matter of congratulation. Hell is too good for such wretches as he, and in more lawful (?) localities he would probably not have been accorded the privilege of even an examination. But it is generally recognized that the law is all powerful, and we hope it is as strong as regards this case as the mythical Vulcan.
May 3, 1879 Twenty-six car-loads of the Dardis & Farrell logs were taken from this station Weyanwega by an extra train, under charge of Conductor Barrows, Tuesday. There still remain enough logs to load another train.
May 10, 1879 Another train-load of the Dardis & Farrell logs were shipped to Weyanwega this week. There remains now but on car-load of the logs to be shipped.
May 17, 1879 All the Dardis & Farrell logs have been shipped.
June 21, 1879 And now Chris. Dardis and Billy Farrell are making substantial and comely improvements in and about their respective residences. Truly, improvement is the order of the day with our citizens.
June 21, 1879
GRAVE ROBBERY
Excitement ran high about our little village on Monday morning last. It had been discovered in the early morning by parties who suspected that the deed was to be done, that the grave of Jack Ryan, who was shot here last fall and buried on "Squaw Point," had been desecrated, the body disinterred, and the skull removed. Justice Whitlock was found, a complaint sworn out, a warrant issued, and almost before our good people were out of their beds Prof. Morris, the phrenologist, was in the embrace of the strong arm of the law and the custody of Deputy-Sheriff Dardis. Then came out the facts as follows :

While here during the fore part of last week, the Professor asked leave from members of the town board to disinter the corpse of Ryan and remove the skull. This request was very properly refused and Morris went his way sorrowing, doubtless. But the suspicions of a few were excited and day and night the grave was closely watched for protection against invasion. The Professorıs course of lectures closed here Wednesday evening and on Thursday he went to Butternut where he stopped until Saturday, on which day he returned here avowedly to recuperate his wasted energies, but really, thought our suspicious friends, to secure the coveted skull, and accordingly stricter watch was inaugurated. But on Sunday night, during an hour when no vigil was kept, the Professor, with spade in hand made his way to the grave, dug down, and reaching the corpse, severed the head from the trunk half, filled the open grave with earth, then cut the flesh from the skull, threw it in, closed the grave and left, the coveted booty in his possession.

The desecration was discovered early Monday morning, and the professor arrested as above stated, on suspicion. -- Upon his arraignment before Justice Whitlock, the prisoner plead guilty to the charge, and doubtless while laboring under a mistaken sense of its duty, the court imposed a fine of $50.00 and costs, which was promptly paid and the prisoner was discharged, only to be re-arrested in a short time on the same charge. On the second arraignment the Professor was again discharged on some legal technicality, and while the officers of the law were attempting to devise some means whereby to again apprehend the culpable resurrectionist, he slid gently away, northward bound, with the skull still in his possession...
August 2, 1879
SCHOOL REPORT
Report of the attendance and deportment of our school for the week ending Aug. 1, 1879.
Names of those who have not been absent:
*Flora Campbell,Frank Evans
*Victoria Houghton,*Chas. McKinley
Emma Osterman,Isa Patterson,
Willie Rath,*Laura Rath,
Geo. Poirier,Mary Farrell
Bridget FarrellElla Dardis
The above not marked thus, * have not been tardy. The average deportment was 95 percent.
August 9, 1879 Chris. Dardis, to whom the work of constructing the drain from the low land back of the village to the lake, was awarded by the town board some weeks ago, has commenced the work of digging. The point of commencement is immediately in front of Jimmy Quail's building and works back on the boundary lines of lots to the swamp. The work of digging is difficult and considerable time must necessarily be consumed in the construction of the drain.
Aug. 16, 1879 A force of men under charge of Allen Jackson and Billey Farrell are working upon the opening of a road on the survey made from this village to Pike Lake last spring. The road will run from this place to the farm of O'Brien & Jackson and is being built with funds collected by the overseer of highways.
Sept. 13, 1879 Chris. Dardis has been making some substantial improvements in and about his residence of late.
Oct. 18, 1879 Chris. Dardis and Billy Farrell have a contract with R. M. Moaer to furnish a large amount of stones which will be used in constructing a line of piers upon which to secure booms, across Elk Lake.
Oct. 10, 1879 Chris. Dardis has a small crew at work getting out piles to be used in bridge building on the Central R.R. at Waboo.
Oct. 10, 1879
and many other 1879 dates
All persons are notified that no bills against the Town of Worcestor presented to the Town Board for acceptance will be paid with out said board contracting of order said bills to be contracted
John O'Brien, Ch'm
Wm. Farrell,
C.H.Williams
Town Board
Dec. 13, 1879
Another man Killed
Fatal Termination of a Drunken Spree
Another man has met a violent death in our village, and again Phillips is classed among outsiders as one of the "hardest places upon God's foot-stool." Jim Harrigan, a man who has worked in the lumber woods in this vicinity, since the inception of our village is the victim of the tragedy, and John Poirier an innocent, harmless Frenchman, resident here about a year, is the person at whose hands the deceased met his death...

He was removed from the house by Dep. Sheriff Dardis and was placed in such a condition that I was thought he would not again attempt to go near the scene of the disturbance...
Dec. 27, 1879 Town clerk Nicholson and deputy sheriff Dardis each suffering from severe colds. Both are unable to transact business.

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